A Vampire for Christmas(106)

He was nodding, so maybe she’d said all that out loud, although she didn’t think so.

He kept talking. “Breathe slowly, Della, and everything will be fine. Some of this is going to seem weird, but I’m hoping you won’t remember any of it. I swear you can trust me not to hurt you.”

She smiled down into those blazing black eyes. “I know that, Eagan.”

Then he did the oddest thing. He raised her hand up to his mouth and licked her blood-drenched palm.



MAN OH MAN, HER BLOOD was so damned sweet. Eagan lapped at the open wound, letting the coagulant in his saliva do its job. Already the flow was growing more sluggish. He turned his attention to the rest of her hand, cleansing the surrounding skin so he could make sure there were no other secondary wounds.

She’d sure done one hell of a number on her hand. What was she doing messing with a knife this late at night? She had to be tired after putting in a full day and half the night waiting on her customers.

By the time he got the worst of the blood cleaned away he knew there was no way he was going to be able to block this from her mind. Although the chemicals in his saliva would eventually seal the wound closed, they weren’t powerful enough to make the resulting scar fade fast enough to keep her from seeing it.

The other problem was the potential damage to tendons and nerves. Della needed her hand to do her job. Seattle offered some of the best medical care in the world, but the healing properties of his blood would beat a surgeon’s best efforts. It wouldn’t take much. Just a few drops.

She was already going to freak out over this. He might as well go for broke. Della might hate what he’d done, might hate what he was, but he could live with that if it gave her back full use of her hand.

He covered the wound with the bloody towel to keep her from seeing it closing up on its own accord.

I’ll be right back, Della. You need fluids.”

She frowned. “Shouldn’t we go to the hospital? I need stitches.”

His hold on her mind was already slipping, which meant he needed to get moving. “It’s not as bad as you thought, but I’ll keep an eye on it. If you need emergency care, I’ll see that you get it.”

In the kitchen, he rooted through the industrial refrigerator for something that would cover the taste of his blood. The best he could come up with was a bottle of chai tea. He cut into the pad of his thumb and squeezed a few drops of blood into a mug and then added a few more. Better too much than too little. After adding the tea, he gave it a quick stir with his finger and hurried back to Della.

He shoved the mug into her free hand. “Drink this down.”

Bossy.”

I know, but this is the best thing for what ails you.”

She dutifully took a sip. Her eyebrows drew together in a frown. “What is this?”

Chai tea.”

It doesn’t taste like any tea I’ve ever tasted.”

I added my own special blend of ingredients.” That was true enough.

After several sips, she smiled. “I like it. You’ll have to give me the recipe.”

He knelt by her side again. “How about I promise to make it for you anytime you want some?”

She drained it to the last drop. Already her color was improving and her eyes looked more focused. On him. Really seeing him for the first time.

Your eyes,” she whispered, reaching out to touch his cheek. “I wasn’t dreaming. They are black.”

Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “And your teeth. What happened to them?”

He rocked back on his heels, putting that much room between them. The bleeding had stopped, but the scent still hung heavily in the air, leaving his control shaky.

It’s the blood, Della. It calls to me.”

That makes no sense, Eagan. Why would you say such a thing?”

He stood up. “Because it’s true. Sit still while I get you another drink.”

And throw the blood-soaked towel outside in the trash and pour bleach on it to kill the scent, which was making it nearly impossible to keep his vampire nature under control. For both their sakes, he also needed to mop up the gruesome trail that stretched across two rooms.

He didn’t bother to hide his unnatural speed while cleaning up. He could hear Della moving around. Based on her footsteps, she was in the ladies’ room washing her hand.

What the heck? That’s not possible.”

While waiting for her to reappear, he refilled her tea, this time without the extra ingredient. He poured a glass for himself, too. A stiff shot of scotch or three would’ve done him more good, but that wasn’t an option right now. He leaned his shoulder against the wall and waited for the inquisition to begin.